Cappadocia: A World Heritage Dreamland.

Millions of years ago volcanic eruptions shaped these bizarre mushrooms, fairy chimneys and pointed caps out of stone. The landscape of Cappadocia, with houses carved into stone, looks like a different world, a dreamland many say. Even today several people still live in these caves made of lava stone.

Uchisar is the most famous town in Cappadocia. Not only is it the highest point of the region, but also the most striking thanks to it’s natural 60 metre high rock castle. It can be seen from a great distance and is visited by pretty much every tourist who comes to this area. It draws attention and lets you imagine how special and adventurous the area around Uchisar is.

It’s said that the long defense tunnels of towns with citadels (like Uchisar) reached far into the surrounding areas. However, since these tunnels have collapsed in places, the theory can’t be confirmed, but is still a popular myth.

The rock citadel in Ushisar, Cappadocia has many underground rooms and walkways. This, as well as the fantastic view from the hisar are well worth a trip.

The smaller, or rather less famous brother of the rock castle in Ushisar is located in the town Ortahisar, less than 15 driving minutes from there. Of course this town is also marked by the striking rock castle, but several small side alleys and a beautiful main square made this the place to set our base. Hezen Cave Hotel is not only a beautiful and well decorated boutique hotel, but also offers what a hotel in the area should offer: cave rooms. The view of the rock castle from the hotels terraces was truly breathtaking!

Ortahisar means “middle castle,” and as its name implies, it is central among the Cappadocian towns. Still, it stayed more or less on the sidelines despite its central location, which made it perfect for us.

Heven Cave Hotel in Ortahisar has several beautiful terrace to enjoy the stunning view.

Ortahisar is known for its friendly people, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named.

Wander downwards from the main square Ortahisar and you’ll discover cobbled streets framed by stone-house ruins leading out to a gorge of pigeon house–speckled rock.

The Other Kind Of Turkey: Welcome To Fantastica.

Some might have erotic fantasies when driving through Cappadocia, I rather see these stone formations as smoking fairy chimneys, mushrooms or pointed caps. It almost feels like as if garden gnomes dominate the area. Depending from which side you come from, you either start in the Devrent valley or Pasabag Monks valley. Michael Endes Fantastica from the Neverending Story greets you, because your imagination won’t have any boundaries here.

In Cappadocia magic seem real. How could geology explain such a surreal phenomenon of fairy like chimneys? The landscape truly looks like something out of a Salvador Dali dream.

The fairy chimneys in Devrent Valley (also known as Imaginary Valley) form a lunar landscape by their strange look and is known for its many animal shaped rocks.

Volcanic eruptions created this surreal landscape of Cappadocia. The lava flows formed tuff rock, which wind and rain sculpted into sinuous valleys with curvy cliff faces and pointy fairy chimneys.

Pasabag valley contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and even triple rock caps.

Exploring Cappadocia was everything I expected it to be: exciting, adventurous, inspiring and beautiful. I hope to return again soon.

The sights of the area are so diverse that there is something new to explore around every corner. We could have spent many more days here, but we still had Pamukkale and the beautiful Turkish Riviera on our travel list.